Paulo Foiani

Paulo Foiani is a Brazilian football manager and former player. He is the current head coach of V.League 2 club Bắc Ninh.

Playing career

Before becoming a manager, Foiani had a long professional playing career as a midfielder. He began his career at Londrina before moving to Coritiba [Foot Ball Club|Coritiba] and went on to play for numerous clubs in Brazil, such as Avaí, Joinville, and Icasa. He also had a brief spell in Vietnam, playing for Hòa Phát [Hà Nội F.C.|Hòa Phát Hà Nội] during the 2007–08 season.

Managerial career

Foiani began his coaching career in 2013 in his native Brazil, managing a host of clubs in state and national leagues. His career has been diverse, marked by frequent short-term spells at numerous clubs, including Operário Ferroviário, Marcílio Dias, Cascavel, Sinop, and Boa Esporte.
In December 2022, Foiani moved to Vietnam for the first time as a manager, taking charge of Công An Hà Nội ahead of the 2023 V.League 1. However, he parted ways with the club in April 2023 after only a few matches.
After returning to Brazil and leading Sousa to a state championship title, Foiani returned to Vietnam was appointed head coach of Bắc Ninh on 23 July 2025.

Coaching style

Foiani is known for his flexible and tactical approach, with an emphasis on discipline. He favors a 4–2–3–1 formation as a foundation for defensive and offensive balance but can switch to a 3–5–2 or 4–1–4–1 depending on the opponent and squad. He often prioritizes control of the midfield, using a double pivot to ensure stability before launching attacks.